Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, January 11
Ypsilanti, Mich.
3:30 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Akron
Eastern Hosting Akron in Saturday Doubleheader
1/9/2025 6:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Men tip approximately at 3:30 p.m., follow women's game at 1 p.m.
| Men's Basketball vs. Akron | |
| Date | Saturday, Jan. 11, at 3:30 p.m. |
| Venue | George Gervin GameAbove Center (8,754) | Ypsilanti, Mich. |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes (PDF) | Media Guide (PDF) |
| Live Stats | Fan Stats | Media Stats |
| Watch | ESPN+ |
| Listen | WEMU (89.1 FM) | The Varsity Network App |
| @EMU_MBB | @EMUAthletics | |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- With students and the pep band back in town, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team hosts Akron at the George Gervin GameAbove Center in a highly-anticipated contest Saturday, Jan. 11, at approximately 3:30 p.m., following the EMU women's basketball game against the Zips, which is scheduled for 1 p.m.
ON AIR
Eastern Michigan and Akron will air on ESPN+ from the George Gervin GameAbove Center with Ryan Wooley and Reggie Butler on the call. Tom Helmer and John Motherwell will have the call live on WEMU (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network App. Live stats will also be available on EMUEagles.com.
OPENING TIPS
»Eastern Michigan rallied back from a 13-point halftime deficit but ultimately dropped a 90-87 decision at Toledo, Jan. 7. The Eagles led, 74-73, with 2:37 left to play before ultimately falling to the Rockets as the Eagles had three players scoring 20-plus points in the same game for the first time since Dec. 6, 2017, as junior Christian Henry (25), senior Jalen Terry (23), and senior Da'Sean Nelson (20) each scored at least 20 points.
» Led by a dominating 32-point, nine-rebound performance from senior Da'Sean Nelson, Eastern Michigan edged Northern Illinois, 75-71, in the MAC opener, Jan. 4. Nelson, who is averaging a team-high 16.0 points per game, has 10-straight games scoring at least 10 points.
»Eastern Michigan, which has four different players to score 28 points in separate games this season, is the only school in the nation to have four different players score even 27 points in separate games this season. A total of 12 other schools have three players to each reach 27 points as 375 different players have a 27-point performance this season and 298 different players have a 28-point performance.
»EMU's 6-1 mark in games decided by four points or fewer is the best in the nation.
»Eastern Michigan has four players averaging at least 11.5-plus points each for the first time since the 1990-91 season.
»Eastern Michigan's Stan Heath is in his fourth year at the helm of the Eagles, holding a 38-69 record at EMU and a 247-276 record over 17 years as a collegiate head coach.
2-0 IN THE MAC HOME GAMES?
After topping Northern Illinois, 75-71, Jan. 4, Eastern is seeking a 2-0 start in MAC home games against Akron, Jan. 11, for the first time since the 2009-10 campaign, when the Eagles topped Toledo and Ball State to open the MAC home slate.
DOUBLEHEADER DAY
The Eagles are scheduled to play three double-headers with the EMU women's basketball team in 2024-25 with two of the three doubleheaders taking place in Ypsilanti. Both the EMU men's and women's teams will play Jan. 11 (vs. Akron), Feb. 15 (men vs. Toledo, women vs. Ball State), and Feb. 22 (Northern Illinois).
The men's team was 5-0 at home in doubleheader games in 2023-24.
J-BILL: 100 CAREER GAMES ON THE WAY
Senior Jalin Billingsley is set to play his 100th career game Saturday, Jan. 11, against Akron. Billingsley played 30 games at Georgetown and sits at 69 games played at EMU ahead of Saturday's game.
J-BILL: FIFTH IN MAC SHOOTING PERCENTAGE
Senior Jalin Billingsley ranks fifth in the MAC in field goal percentage, shooting 66-for-122 (.541). He tops the MAC in shooting percentage among players with 100 field goal attempts or more.
THREE PLAYERS WITH 20+ POINTS
Against Toledo, Jan. 7, the Eagles had three players scoring 20-plus points in the same game for the first time since Dec. 6, 2017, as junior Christian Henry (25), senior Jalen Terry (23), and senior Da'Sean Nelson (20).
In the Dec. 6, 2017, game against Oakland, Paul Jackson, Elijah Minnie, and James Thompson IV all netted 24 points in the 95-89 win.
10 MADE THREE-POINTERS AT TOLEDO
Against Toledo, Jan. 7, EMU was 10-for-23 (43.5%) from three-point range. It marked EMU's third game with at least 10 made three-pointers this season (10 at IU Indy, Nov. 16; 11 vs. Detroit Mercy, Nov. 30).
The .435 shooting clip from distance is Eastern's best three-point percentage in a game since going 13-for-29 (44.8%) at Louisiana-Monroe, Feb. 10, 2024.
If Eastern were to convert at least 10 triples against Akron, Jan. 11, it would be EMU's first time making at least 10 three-pointers in back-to-back games since Jan. 31, 2023, against Ohio (13) and Feb. 3, 2023, against Ball State (10).
87 POINTS IN A REGULATION ROAD LOSS
Eastern scored 87 points in the 90-87 loss at Toledo, Jan. 7. The 87 points are the Eagles' most in a regulation road loss since dropping a 102-97 decision at Buffalo, Feb. 7, 2023.
EMU scored 90 points in an 92-90 overtime loss at Bowling Green, Jan. 2, 2024.
CHRISTIAN HENRY BUZZER-BEATING THREES
Junior Christian Henry drilled a pair of three-pointers at the buzzer at Toledo, Jan. 7. His first was a deep three from the wing to close out the first half while his second was from half court at the final horn.
DA'SEAN NELSON IN TOLEDO
Senior Da'Sean Nelson returned to his hometown for Tuesday, Jan. 7's game against the Rockets. Nelson, who was not recruited by Toledo out of Robert S. Rogers High School in the Glass City, played some summer ball in Savage Arena, but never played with Rogers on the Rockets' home floor. Nelson had more than 60 friends and family in attendance for Tuesday's game, scoring 20 points.
DA'SEAN NELSON CAREER-HIGH 32 POINTS
Senior Da'Sean Nelson netted a career-high 32 points to go with nine rebounds in the win over Northern Illinois, Jan. 4. Nelson, who scored 16 points in each half, also set a career high with 12 made field goals.
DA'SEAN NELSON 10+ POINTS IN 10-STRAIGHT
After scoring 20 points against Toledo, Jan. 7, senior Da'Sean Nelson has 10-straight games with at least 10 points for the first time in his career.
With 17 regular-season games remaining, Nelson would need the Eagles to qualify for the MAC Tournament to have the opportunity to top Tyson Acuff's 27-game double-digit scoring streak from the 2023-24 season.
DA'SEAN NELSON MAC POTW (x3)
Senior Da'Sean Nelson, who was named MAC Player of the Week Dec. 2 and Dec. 23, won his third conference weekly honor of the season after an impressive 32-point, nine-rebound showing against Northern Illinois, Jan. 4.
By earning the recognition for the third time, Nelson is the first player in the MAC to accomplish that feat since former Akron Zip and current Indiana Pacer Enrique Freeman earned the honor eight times in 2023-24.
CHRISTIAN HENRY'S NINE ASSISTS
Junior Christian Henry dished out a career-high nine assists against Northern Illinois, Jan. 4, the top mark by an Eagle since Paul Jackson had 10, Jan. 26, 2019, against Western Michigan.
ONLY SCHOOL WITH 28+ POINTS (x4)
With senior Da'Sean Nelson's 28 points against Northern Illinois, Jan. 4, junior Christian Henry's 28-point showing against Detroit Mercy, Nov. 30, senior Jalen Terry's 28 points against IU Indy, Nov. 14, and senior Jalin Billingsley's 32 points against Siena Heights, Nov. 8, Eastern Michigan is the only team in the nation with four different players reaching 28 points this season. EMU is also the only team with four reaching 27 points.
Different Players Scoring 27+ Points:
T1. Eastern Michigan 4
T2. 17 Schools 3
In total, 375 different players have scored at least 27 points in a single game nationally while 298 different players have a 28-point performance this season.
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY VS. AKRON
Eastern and Akron are meeting for the 62nd time as Akron leads the all-time series, 37-24, as the Eagles won in stunning fashion, 61-60, March 5, 2024, in the teams' most recent meeting. Prior to the EMU win, Akron had won six-straight in the series. The Zips are 34-10 in the last 44 games.
In the most recent game, current senior Jalin Billingsley gained national attention after his left-handed, putback jam with 1.9 seconds left helped the Eagles stun then-MAC-leading Akron, March 5. EMU; which was coming off a lackluster 52-37 loss to Miami, March 1, suffered a 31-point defeat at home to the Zips, Jan. 30, and was without 21.7 ppg scorer Tyson Acuff, was given just a 2.2% chance to win prior to the game, per ESPN's Basketball Power Index, as the Eagles won back-to-back road games in the MAC in the same season for the first time since the 2017-18 season.
SUCCESS IN CLOSE GAMES - NATIONAL LEADER
After junior Christian Henry swished in a half-court shot at the buzzer of the game at Toledo, Jan. 7, to cut the margin to three points, Eastern moved to 6-1 in games decided by four points or less. Eastern's six wins by four or fewer is the most in the nation. The trend has continued from the 2023-24 season when the Eagles were 8-3 in games decided by four points or less.
Wins by Four Points or Less:
1. Eastern Michigan 6
T2. Nicholls 5
T2. Northeastern 5
T2. Princeton 5
T2. UC-Riverside 5
FOUR EAGLES AVERAGING 11.5+ POINTS
Eastern has four players averaging 11.5 points for the first time since 1990-91.
Player PPG 2024-25
Da'Sean Nelson 16.0
Jalen Terry 15.8
Christian Henry 14.0
Jalin Billingsley 11.8
Player PPG 1990-91
Marcus Kennedy 20.0
Carl Thomas 14.1
Lorenzo Neely 11.6
Kory Hallas 11.5
Eastern is the only team in the MAC with four players averaging at least 11.5 points per game.
DOUBLE-DIGIT ASSISTS
Eastern Michigan has 13 consecutive games with at least 10 assists for the first time since a 13-game streak during the 2017-18 season.
The Eagles originally had just seven assists against Toledo, Jan. 7, but that number was upped to 10 after UT completed its stats corrections.
If EMU is able to reach double-figures for a 14th-straight game, it would mark the longest streak for EMU since an 18-game streak extending from the final game of the 2009-10 season through the first 17 games of the 2010-11 season.
JALEN TERRY, A BIT OF EVERYTHING
Senior Jalen Terry is averaging 15.8 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game, and 3.1 assists per game.
Terry is one of 32 players nationally to average at least 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. If Terry were to finish with those numbers, you would be the only player in program history to achieve those marks in a single season since assists became an official stat (1976-77).
Adding in his 1.5 steals per game, Terry is one of just 11 players nationally to average at least 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals.
JALEN TERRY MAC MINUTES LEADER
Senior Jalen Terry leads the MAC in minutes, averaging 36.8 minutes per game.
National Minutes Leaders:
1. Bennett Stiritz (Drake) 38.1
2. Gibson Jimerson (SLU) 37.2
3. Luke Barrett (St. Mary's) 37.1
4. Brooks Barnhizer (NW) 36.8
5. Johnathan Lawson (UALR) 36.8
6. Jalen Terry (EMU) 36.8
With former Eagle Tyson Acuff ranking fourth in the nation in minutes per game at 37.9 in 2023-24, EMU is the first school since Stony Brook (2021-23) to have different players rank inside the top six in minutes nationally in different seasons.
JALEN TERRY REBOUNDING AT 6-FEET TALL
Despite standing at 6-feet-0, senior Jalen Terry is averaging 5.1 rebounds per game, which ranks 19th in the MAC. Terry ranks eighth in the MAC in defensive rebounds per game at 4.6.
JT 25+ POINTS, 6+ THREE-POINTERS
Senior Jalen Terry posted back-to-back games with at least 25 points and six made three-pointers at IU Indy, Nov. 14, and at Cleveland State, Nov. 16. He is one of five MAC players to accomplish that feat and the first to do so since Jordan Dartis for Ohio University in 2019.
MAC Players With 25 Points AND 6 Three-Pointers in CONSECUTIVE Games (Since 2002-03):
MOH Michael Bramos 4 Dec. 3-13, 2008
EMU Jalen Terry 2 Nov. 14-16, 2024
OU Jordan Dartis 2 Nov. 24-30, 2019
CMU Marcus Keene 2 (x2) Dec. 3-6, 2016; Jan. 17-21, 2017
BSU Skip Mills 2 March 4-6, 2006
Terry is one of just five Eagles since 2002-03 to record multiple games with at least 25 points and six made three-pointers in a season. If he can accomplish the feat again, he would be the first in that time frame to record three such games in one season.
EMU Players With 25 Points AND 6 Three-Pointers TOTAL Games in One Season (Since 2002-03):
Jalen Terry 2 2024-25
Tyson Acuff 2 2022-23
Emoni Bates 2 2022-23
Elijah Minnie 2 2018-19
Willie Mangum 2 2016-17
Terry was also the first Eagle since Carlos Medlock, Feb. 11-15, 2006, to knock down six three-pointers in back-to-back games.
CLOSE GAMES IN THE MAC
With the 75-71 win over Northern Illinois, Jan. 4, and the 87-90 loss to Toledo, Jan. 7, Eastern's first two MAC games were decided by four points.
If the game against Akron, Jan. 11, is decided by four points or fewer, it would be the first that EMU's first three MACA games were decided by four points or fewer since 1974-75.
If the game against Akron, Jan. 11, is decided by single digits, it would be the first time that EMU's first three MAC games were decided by single digits since 2014-15.
BELOW THE CENTURY MARK
In 376 games at the George Gervin GameAbove Center since opening in 1998-99, only one team has reached 100 points against the Eagles as 2022-23 Florida Atlantic, which reached the 2023 Final Four, scored 101 at EMU, Dec. 4, 2022.
Horizon League preseason favorite Purdue Fort Wayne fell one point shy becoming the second Eagle foe to reach 100 points at the George Gervin GameAbove Center as Eastern fell, 99-76, Dec. 15.
Top Point Totals by Foes at the George Gervin GameAbove Center
Date School Points
12/4/2022 Florida Atlantic 101
12/15/2024 Purdue Fort Wayne 99
11/30/2024 Detroit Mercy 98
11/12/2023 Illinois State 98
THR33-POINT STR3AK, 627-STRAIGHT GAM3S
Eastern, which hit 10 threes against Toledo, Jan. 7, has now hit at least one triple in 627-straight games. EMU last failed to score from downtown Jan. 24, 2004, when Miami held the Eagles to 0-of-7 from behind the arc.
The Eagles have converted at least five three-pointers in 15-consecutive games, dating back to the final game of the 2023-24 season. The 15-game streak is EMU's longest since a 15-game streak extending from the 2020-21 to the 2021-22 season. A 16-game streak would be the team's longest since at least the 2008-09 season.
2024-25 PRESEASON ALL-MAC TEAMS
First Team
Payton Sparks, Senior, Center, Ball State
Anthony Pritchard, Senior, Guard, Central Michigan
VonCameron Davis, R-Senior, Forward, Kent State
AJ Clayton, Senior, Forward, Ohio
Javan Simmons, Sophomore, Forward, Toledo
Second Team
Isaiah Gray, Senior, Guard, Akron
Jalen Sullinger, Senior, Guard, Kent State
Shereef Mitchell, Graduate Student, Guard, Ohio
AJ Brown, R-Sophomore, Guard, Ohio
Isaiah Adams, Fifth Year, Guard, Toledo
PRESEASON PICKED NINTH
After finishing 10th in 2023-24, EMU was picked ninth in the MAC preseason coaches' poll.
2024-25 MAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
(First Place Votes)
1. Ohio (11) – 121
2. Akron (1) – 106
3. Kent State – 99
4. Toledo – 95
5. Bowling Green – 73
6. Miami – 72
7. Ball State – 67
8. Central Michigan – 55
9. Eastern Michigan – 36
10. Western Michigan – 33
11. Northern Illinois – 24
12. Buffalo – 11
Tournament Champion: Ohio (8), Kent State (3), Toledo (1)
The six Ohio schools made up the top six while the bottom six is filled with the rest of the MAC schools.
MICHIGAN MATCH-UPS
The Eagles play three in-state opponents in non-conference action with contests against Siena Heights (Nov. 8), Oakland (Nov. 21), and Detroit Mercy (Nov. 30).
NEW FOE, WHO DIS?
The Eagles added competition against three first-time opponents this season; they faced off against Texas State, Nov. 4 (L, 44-64), Houston Christian, Nov. 25 (W, 74-73), and Wright State, Dec. 21 (W, 86-82).
WHO'S BACK??
EMU returns four players from its 2023-24 roster including seniors Jalin Billingsley, Yusuf Jihad, and Micah Schnyders, as well as sophomore Arne Osojnik.
WHO'S GONE??
EMU lost 10 players from its 2023-24 game one roster including Tyson Acuff (Rutgers), Orlando Lovejoy (Detroit Mercy), Legend Geeter (Detroit Mercy), Conner Serven (Virginia Tech), Cyril Martynov (Eastern Kentucky), Julius Ellerbe (Coppin State), John McGriff (transfer portal - no destination), Javantae Randle (Central State), Prakash Ketterhagen (Lourdes), and Andrew Wells (graduation). The Eagles also lost Director of Operations LaMonta Stone (Assistant Coach - Detroit Mercy) and Graduate Assistant Nick Madray (graduation --> Utah Jazz).
WHAT'S GONE??
EMU lost 1,332 of its 2,047 points (65.07%) from the 2023-24 season, most notably leading scorer Tyson Acuff, who averaged 21.7 ppg (8th in the nation) on 43/29/81 shooting splits and transferred to Rutgers.
FRESH FACES
EMU added 11 newcomers to its 2024-25 roster including seniors Jalen Terry (DePaul), Da'Sean Nelson (DePaul), John Shanu II (UTRGV), and Cooper Smith (Michigan), juniors Christian Henry (Panola College), Julian Lewis (Miami), and Trey Pettigrew (Salt Lake CC), and freshmen Mario Brunetto (Classical Gymnasium), Mbaye N'Diaye (SEED Academy), Godslove Nwabude (Zion Prep), and Dillon Tingler (Huntington Prep).
DEPAUL DUO TO YPSILANTI
Jalen Terry and Da'Sean Nelson both came to Ypsilanti from DePaul and are expected to have big roles for the Eagles in 2024-25. Terry averaged 8.5 ppg and Nelson scored 9.7 ppg for the Blue Demons in 2023-24.
STAYING HOME
Eastern Michigan has just four players (Yusuf Jihad, Farmington Hills; Jalen Terry, Flint; Cooper Smith, Mio; and Julian Lewis, Ypsilanti) from the Mitten State on its 2024-25 roster, EMU's fewest since 2020-21 (four).
INTERNATIONAL INFLUX
International student-athlete representation doubled on the Eagles 15-player roster this season, as they added three true freshmen from Senegal (Mbaye N'Diaye), Nigeria (Godslove Nwabude), and Italy (Mario Brunetto), respectively. The trio joins sophomore Arne Osojnik who represented Slovenia twice as a member of the U18 national team at the Euro Championships. A complete breakdown of the EMU roster can be found on page 11.
Most international true freshmen in the nation:
1. Buffalo - 6
2. Florida Atlantic - 5
t3. Eastern Michigan - 3
Manhattan - 3
Oregon State - 3
San Francisco - 3
Seattle - 3
UT-Martin - 3
Weber State - 3
Most African true freshmen in the nation:
t1. Eastern Michigan - 2
Seton Hall - 2
Osojnik is one of five players from Slovenia in the country.
Slovenian MBB Players at NCAA Division I:
Arne Osojnik - Eastern Michigan
Klemen Vuga - UAPB
Urban Klavzar - Florida
Jan Vide - LMU (Calif.)
Sasa Ciani - UIC
Brunetto is one of 17 Italians players while N'Diaye is one of 32 Senegalese players and Nwabude is one of 38 Nigerian players.
EMONI BATES NBA + G-LEAGUE
Former Eagle Emoni Bates was named a G-League All-Star with the Cleveland Charge in 2023-24, averaging 24.8 ppg. Bates also appeared in 15 games with the Cavaliers during the 2023-24 season. He underwent surgery in early October to repair a torn meniscus and is expected to return to action at some point during the 2024-25 season.
EASTERN HADN'T PLAYED WRIGHT STATE?
Despite being separated by 174 miles, Eastern Michigan and Wright State had never competed against each other in men's basketball, prior to Eastern's 86-82 win, Dec. 21.
Of the 44 Division I schools within 300 miles (straight line on map) of Ypsilanti, Eastern had played all but four of them, meeting 37 of the 44 multiple times.
Schools Within 300 Miles Eastern Had Not Played:
School Distance
Wright State 174
Northwestern 211
West Virginia 264
Morehead State 279
NEXT UP
Eastern Michigan travels to Central Michigan for a 7 p.m. game Tuesday, Jan. 14.
FOLLOW US
For the most up-to-date information on the Eagles, visit EMUEagles.com. Fans can also follow the team on social media, including Twitter (@EMU_MBB) and Instagram (@EMUMBB).
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